Read Smith's "Tour"; never met with a book of the kind "so interesting & entertaining"; agreed with all of Smith's politics and has never seen the liberal passage of vol 3 p.145 [on "power combined with cruelty"] exceeded by any author. Examined punctuation of "Hortus Kewensis" and compared it with "Philosophia botanica", with which it "accurately agrees", but cannot approve it as it is contrary to all other authors and rules of punctuation, and cannot understand for what reason Linnaeus would invert the order of the comma and colon. Requests Sierra Leone coins.

Sends perfect copy of his "Tour" and copies of his "New Holland" work; particularly pleased with his description of 'Billardiera'. Examined 'Fucus confervoides' of Linnaean herbarium and confirms it is 'F. vesuicosus' [William] Hudson and not 'F. albidus', finds no 'F. incurous' Hudson in herbarium. Mr Egerton the only one of [Samuel] Goodenough's pupils to die [from a fever at Goodenough's school]. Visited North Walsham, [Norfolk], to meet botanist Revd Mr Hepworth. Will be in Norwich in June to lecture on botany and zoology for 6 weeks.

Thanks for Woodward's good opinion of his "Tour"; opinion of others including his Windsor friend and Sir Abraham and Lady [Amelia] Hume, despite Sir Abraham being a friend of [Edmund] Burke [(1730-1797), politician] and an "alarmist"; has heard nothing of De Luc's or the Queen's [Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744-1818)] opinion; only criticism received so far is from his "honest but bigotted friend" [Thomas] Marhsam, "a furious friend of the slave trade & an enemy of Dr [Joseph] Priestly [(1733-1804), theologian]", who says he did wrong in mentioning Priestly.

[Letter incomplete: lower two-thirds of second folio cropped, text presumed destroyed]

Reassures Smith that he reads all of his works. A "moderate person" could not find fault with politics of Smith's "Tour"; surprised at [Thomas] Marsham's violent criticism. Relieved to hear of [Samuel] Goodenough from Smith; their work together on 'Fucus'. Received a proposal for publishing a "Life of Linnaeus", to be dedicated to Linnean Society and written by [Joseph] Trapp; his concerns. Asks Smith to procure Sierra Leone coins from [Adam] Afzelius. Received call from Smith's brother, John.

Glad Woodward enjoys "Zoology of New Holland"; he likes it and [George] Shaw "very much". History of the proposed biography of Linnaeus by [Joseph] Trapp, translated from [Dietrich Heinrich] Stoever's German biography; recommending all naturalists to subscribe. Lists new Fellows of the Linnean Society. Communicated information to Stoever for the original biography, particularly narrative of purchase of the collections. His paper on ferns [published by Turin Academy] is expected soon; intends to publish a translation. Sold more than 600 copies of his "Tour".

Reread Smith's "Tour"; his criticisms, intended for use in a second edition. Picks out particular points for praise over two pages, remaining two pages contain corrections, additions, and substitutions.

Smith's "Tour" "highly spoken of" in both the "Analytical Review" and "British Critic Review", the former speaking more advantageously of it, his comment that an attack on [Samuel] Johnson [(1709-1784), writer] and [Edmund] Burke [(1730-1797), politician] would be considered "little short of treason" is true. Requests Smith and [Samuel] Goodenough to examine 'Fucus elongatus' Linnaeus, for their paper on the genus; his own observations. Sent Goodenough probable specimen of 'Fucus corallinus' of "Flora Danica", though he believes it is a variety of 'F. parpucascens'.

Concerned at fate of letters he sent to Smith and [Samuel] Goodenough under direction of [Thomas] Marsham. Received from [Lilly] Wigg [(1749-1828), botanist] a curious new 'Ulva' from the Mediterranean, like 'Fucus lorens'.

Heard that Smith was at [Nicholas Gwyn's] in Ipswich, [Suffolk], before coming to Norwich for his lectures. Glad Smith's lectures are likely to be "handsomely attended". Keen to see [James] Crowe's 'Cerastium'; Smith justly observes it cannot be a hybrid of 'C. aquaticum' and 'Stellaria nemorum'. Unable to send [James] Sowerby 'Trifolium suffocatum' or ['Potamogeton compressus'] again. Sends specimen from Mr Burroughs of Stratton of new 'Vicia' gathered at Alderburgh, [Suffolk], though he thinks it 'V. lutea'; observations. Notes on the 'Ulva' he will bring Smith; wants to reform the genus. Thinks he has 'Mentha exigua' Linnaeus growing in his garden from root of 'M. pulegium' [Smith has annotated "not so JES"].

Thanks for Smith's permission to consult the Linnaean herbarium in his absence, which he will use to examine 'Fucus' specimens. Reassures Smith he will be too busy for any "gallantry" with the maids, who were not chosen, "as single men's maids sometimes are for their superior beauty". Sends paper he has drawn up on genus 'Ulva', including description of new species 'U. decorticata', for Smith's opinion; notes on its contents.

As Smith now a "great collector of coins" asks him to acquire Sheffield coins from Dr [William] Younge. If Smith's brother goes to America wishes him success; discusses coins from the north of England. Asks after Smith's publications "[Specimen of the botany of ] New Holland", "Spicilegium botanicum", and "Flora Britannica". Asks if he could acquire remaining Bulliard plates ["Histoire des champignons"] through [Edmund] Davall. Asks after specimen of 'Atriplex laciniata'. Mr Windham requests visit from Smith.

Thanks for use of Smith's house and library. He and Dr [William] Younge went to Drury Lane and saw "Ladoisha", "the most extraordinary piece of machinery" he ever saw on any stage. Visited [William] Withering in Birmingham; his house and its environs; Withering's precarious health, suffering violent attacks to this lungs and spitting blood; if he survives the winter interested by Dr [Thomas] Beddoes' [(1760-1808), chemist and physician] "aerial process"; coins.

Has left specimen of 'Bromus diandrus' and seeds and specimen of Portuguese grass, since found to be 'Andropogon hirtum', from Withering. Notes from his study of the Linnaean 'Fucus' specimens; made some pencil notes on the different species. Thanks Smith's servants.

Queries on his 'Ulva' paper for Smith to resolve. Arrangements for visit by [James] Sowerby and commissions for drawing 'Fucus' species. Received [Samuel] Goodenough's articles for their paper on 'Fucus', which he generally praises, except that his Latin can run into the "oratorical style"; further notes on composition and contents of their paper. Can acquire coins for Smith. Asks if plan respecting Smith's brother, John, [to emigrate to America] is arranged, after seeing report that some people of large fortune who emigrated from Birmingham have been taken prisoner by a French frigate during their passage.

Returns final revision of his 'Ulva' paper; notes on additions, composition, and contents, including figures. [William] Withering informs him that 'Tamarisca gallica' grows plentifully in the hedges at Lizard Point, Cornwall.

Sends new Bungay halfpenny for Miss [Sarah Sophia] Banks [(1744-1818)] Keen to know fate of his paper on 'Ulva', and whether Smith thinks 'Fucus foeniculaceus' of Linnaean herbarium is really 'F. concatenatus' of the British authors, and 'F. concatenatus' of the herbarium is a different plant.

Has opened a correspondence with [John] Stackhouse, who intends to publish on marine plants; transcribes a postscript from one of Stackhouse's letters in which he offers to the Linnean Society a specimen and description of new 'Ulva' found at Weymouth, [Devon]; desires to become FLS. Observations on Stackhouse's new 'Ulva punctata'. Stackhouse's anxiety that his [Woodward] and Goodenough's work will supersede his own. Strongly recommends admitting Stackhouse to Linnean Society. Received drawing and description of 'Fucus tomentosa' for his and Goodenough's paper on 'Fucus'.